The Song || Young Leonardo DiCaprio Fan Fiction

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The irritating sensation of my phone buzzing from under my pillow interrupted me from catching up on much needed sleep. I had just finished travelling around the world, attending premieres and interviews for my last movie. To say I was exhausted and needed the rest would be a major understatement.

"Hello?" I croaked groggily. I hadn't even bothered to check who was calling before accepting the call and pressing the phone to my ear. Whoever was waking me up this early in the morning had better have a good reason.

"Beverly!" my agent, Theo, greeted me cheerily on the other end of the line. His tone of voice gave away the fact that he had some good news. I rubbed my eye sleepily before slowly sitting up in bed, my hair sticking up in all sorts of directions.

"Hey, how's it going?" I greeted him, hoping the call would be quick and he'd just get to the point. He chuckled upon hearing my groggy voice. "Listen, I know it's early but just stick with me for a couple minutes. I have an opportunity for you that I know you're gonna hate at first, but trust me, you're gonna want to at least think this over before giving me an answer."

I narrowed my eyes as he spoke. I already didn't like where this was going. "Okay...I'm listening." The statement came out more like a question, my voice hesitant. I sat on my bed, legs crossed and eyebrows knotted, completely perplexed.

"Baz Luhrmann. He's directing a new movie and auditions for the female lead are tomorrow evening. I got you a spot...just in case you decide to at least go and try out," Theo stated. I could hear the smirk in his voice. "What's the movie?" I asked cautiously, knowing a wouldn't like the answer based on the conversation.

"Romeo and Juliet. Well, a modernized version of Romeo and Juliet, to be more accurate. The setting is updated to a city called 'Verona Beach.'"

I felt myself cringe at his description of the film. It was so not my thing. I couldn't even remotely imagine myself being the lead in 'the most tragic love story ever made.' The whole 'star-crossed lovers' thing just wasn't my scene...at all. "That's gonna be a hard no from me, Theo," I practically laughed, egging on an exasperated sigh from my irritated agent. "Bev, you didn't even think about it! Promise me you'll at least audition," he huffed. I was still laughing. "But-"

"Promise!" he interrupted. I rolled my eyes, not taking the conversation seriously whatsoever. "Fine. I'll audition. It doesn't mean I'll get the role," I mused, putting the phone on speaker and placing it on my leg so I could tie my hair up. "You're Beverly Harlow. Of course you'll get the role," Theo chuckled. I smiled sheepishly before pressing the phone back to my ear, forgetting he couldn't see me. Theo sighed before speaking again. "Talk soon. Go back to sleep."

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I spent all of the next day sitting at my kitchen table and contemplating whether or not to even attend the audition. In my entire career as an actress, I'd never imagined to be auditioning to star in a romance film---let alone Romeo and Juliet, the ultimate love story that was well-known around the world.

However, I was an actress, and a good one at that. A talented actress is able to morph into any character and put on a convincing show for the audience. Plus, the one million dollar paycheck was quite persuading.

By six o'clock, I had made up my mind to go to the audition. And who knew? Maybe I would get the part. It could be fun. It would surely be difficult seeing as I had never participated in a film that required that much intimacy with another person, but it would definitely blow everyone away. I was always up for a challenge.

Upon arriving at the audition, I waited nervously in a chair, tapping my food restlessly on the ground. Theo had sent me the scene I was supposed to audition with earlier that day, so I already had some of it memorized. I clutched onto the hard copy, not even bothering to read it over again out of fear that if I practiced too much in my head I would mess it up. Apparently, they had already casted someone for Romeo, so I was supposed to go in there and perform the scene where Romeo and Juliet first meet with him.